THE HARBOR COLUMN:

My weather predication for this middle-of-winter weekend is warm and mostly sunny, good for boating. Northerly winds will be blowing, and Saturday will have the largest swells that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts will be 4 to 6 feet.

However, I do not predict 6-foot waves to hit along the Newport coast. So, if you are planning to go out onto the ocean, then stick your boat’s bow out of the jetty entrance to take a look at the seas.

I listed several resolutions in my column last weekend, and I received a number of e-mails asking for more boating resolutions. Therefore, I make the resolution to expand my list to incorporate a larger list, including the new ones I have listed below.

Let’s start with taking advantage of the free vessel safety checks offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadrons. This is a great program to see if your vessel meets federal and state guidelines for safety equipment, plus it allows the opportunity to have an experienced person check your boat.

Another resolution is to wear your life jacket and set an example of safety upon the waterways. Recreational boating has a good track record, with 72 million people in the nation participating in the activity. You have more of a chance of being killed from a wild animal attack (about 800 deaths annually) while on vacation than from a boating-related fatality (about 700 annually), but we are always striving to make boating safer.

How about keeping your engine tuned and operating in tip-top condition to conserve fuel and reduce the amount of exhaust? While on the topic of fuel, let’s practice safe fueling techniques when at the fuel dock or using a portable container. Typically, you do not need to fill you tanks to the top, which can cause fuel spilling out the vent tube. Fill your tanks only three-quarters full to avoid any spillage.

Lastly, make a reservation at www.NewportBeach.com to attend the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade Awards Dinner. This is a great, annual event to raise funds for next year’s parade, and it will be Jan. 18 at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort.

Remember to tune in every Saturday at 11 a.m. to Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show on AM 830.

MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating columnist. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to [email protected] or go to www.boathousetv.com.